We wait, starving for moments of high magic to inspire us, but life is full of common enchantment waiting for our alchemist’s eyes to notice. — Jacob Nordby
Lia Purpura
How to Lengthen a Scene
Stepping back: yes, lengthening the scene, so awe has a little room to breathe. That courtesy. – Lia Purpura’s “Sugar Eggs: A Reverie”
What We See and How We See It
When I read Lia Purpura’s On Looking a year or so ago, I found three questions swilling around my head:
- What do we see?
- How do we see it?
- How does seeing it impact us?
How to be a Better Writer: Be Empathetic
It’s the noticing that cracks us open, lets something in.
Shows we’re in use.
Uses us.
Right now. Right this minute.
Lia Purpura’s “Recurrences/Concurrences”
Let the Ending Come
To ‘sit with’ you have to look into the gap in your understanding, not drive the conversation, not know where it’s going. Not know beforehand at all where it’s heading. – Lia Purpura, “On Looking Away: A Panoramic”
What Does “Creative” Mean?
A long time ago but in this same galaxy, I had a college roommate. She and I once had an interesting conversation about creativity:
Roommate: I’m not creative.
Me: What do you mean you’re not creative?
Roommate: I can’t draw like you. Or write.
Me: That’s not true. You are, too, creative. You do draw and write.
Roommate: But not well. Not like you. I’m not creative.
Me (a little frustrated): That doesn’t mean anything. You don’t have to draw or write to be creative. That isn’t what “creative” means. Your (sociology) work is creative, too.
Roommate: Right…